The judgments against Babylon continue. The divine Judge is also shown as the leader of the armies. The Persians were the Lord’s warriors against Babylon, just as Babylon had been his warriors against Judah (Jeremiah 25:9).
Merathaim (meaning double rebellion) refers to the southern part of the Tigris and Euphrates river valley. Pekod (meaning punishment) refers to a people living on the eastern side of the same valley. These people were Babylonian.
devote them to destruction: See Leviticus 27:28–29; Joshua 6:21; 1 Samuel 15:3.